Mascara Applicator

ABSTRACT

Implementations described herein provide an apparatus and a method for applying mascara with a mascara applicator assembly. The mascara applicator assembly has a body. The body has an inner volume configured to accept mascara product. A stem is coupled to the body. The stem has a passage and one or more apertures. The one or more apertures extend through the stem and into the passage. A brush is disposed on a distal end of the stem and has a dispensing region and an application region. The dispensing region has bristle fibers arranged in an orientation different than the bristle fibers disposed in the application region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/819,784 filed on Mar. 18, 2019. The entirety of the aforementioned application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND Field

Implementations described herein generally relate to a cosmetic applicator. More particularly, the present invention relates to an applicator suitable for applying mascara.

Description of the Related Art

Mascaras are generally used by consumers to accentuate the eyelashes by imparting color and/or aesthetic effects to the eyelashes. In particular, consumers use mascaras to darken, thicken, lengthen, and curl their lashes.

The general purpose of a mascara applicator is to pick up a supply of mascara from a container, carry it from a reservoir of the container through a dosing or metering system, which is generally a wiper, without dripping, and apply it evenly to the eyelashes.

Conventional mascara applicators generally include a brush attached to an elongated rod that is also connected to a handle. The brush and rod are usually housed in a cylindrical container, and the brush handle forms a closure for the container when the mascara applicator is not in use. When use of the mascara applicator is desired, the handle is pulled away from the container to remove the dosed mascara-laden brush. As the applicator is removed from the container, a wiper system removes excess mascara from the brush bristles, ideally leaving on the brush a level of mascara loading optimized for application. Conventional mascara applicators tend to focus on optimizing the mascara loading through a combination of brush design and wiper design. However, such brush-wiper combinations are fixed in the design of the product, necessitating different product variants to match varied consumer preferences. Moreover, as the mascara is consumed, it generally leaves a void in the container, which over time reduces pickup by the brush within the container, thus affecting mascara loading. In addition, as the product is exposed to the atmosphere over time, the viscosity of the mascara may increase, further affecting pickup, thus affecting mascara loading. Adjustable wipers have been employed to address consumer loading preferences and decreased product pickup over time, but adjusting such adjustable wipers to compensate for decreased pickup by decreasing their wiping action can result in clumpy mascara loading, and does nothing to reduce changes in mascara viscosity over time, which can affect the quality of application to the eyelashes.

Another limitation of conventional mascara applicators is that the viscosity of the mascara must be sufficient such that when the brush is withdrawn through the wipers, the bristle rebound resulting from the wiper's deflection of the bristles as it is withdrawn therethrough can cause splattering of the mascara, which can stain users' clothes or other belongings. Moreover, thinner viscosity mascaras may leak out of an uncapped, overturned conventional mascara applicator, causing damage or staining to clothing or other belongings. Thinner mascaras have certain performance benefits over thicker mascaras, but because of the foregoing problems, they are not feasible to deliver with conventional applicators.

A non-conventional mascara applicator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,360,673 B2. The applicator comprises a body. The body is comprised of a handle coupled to a piston rod which mates with a piston disposed within a product delivery chamber, and an applicator head. The applicator head contains a valve arrangement to permit flow of product into the product delivery chamber, but prevents backflow. The product is delivered to the lashes either by a plurality of prongs, each of which has a conduit that connects to the product delivery chamber, or through a single conduit between the product delivery chamber and the applicator head surface, wherein twisting of the handle delivers the product through the respective conduits. To protect the product from the atmosphere, which can dry or contaminate the product, the foregoing non-conventional mascara applicator employs a biased valve that opens to deliver product to the conduits. However, biased valves containing a fluid within a reservoir generally remain closed unless the reservoir pressure is increased, whether by squeezing, pumping or other pressurization technique, until it reaches the valve's threshold pressure. Once the valve's threshold pressure is overcome, the fluid is so pressurized that it may flow out of the valve unpredictably or in excess of what is desired, until the pressure on the fluid drops below the valve's threshold. While the foregoing non-conventional mascara applicator purports to offer increased control over mascara loading compared to conventional mascara applicators, the biased valve it employs as a sealing mechanism results in an unacceptable degree of imprecision in mascara loading control. Moreover, the aforementioned design employs prongs, rather than brush bristles, which may be less effective than conventional molded or twist-wire bristles at transferring mascara to eyelashes and/or require users to learn new application techniques.

Recent mascara formulations have been developed which expand or foam after application. Certain of these formulations may be stored in a pressurized canister with a propellant. Certain of these formulations may be stored at atmospheric pressure. The foaming formulations for mascara may have at least one surfactant, a solvent for the surfactant, and a volatile agent in an amount effective to swell the composition after application to the eyelashes. These foaming formulations further improve the aesthetic appearance of the eyelashes, which when applied foams or swells to a specified volume. A particular advantage is that one dose application may be sufficient to achieve the desired volume. However, conventional applicators are not well suited for storing or delivering these expanding and foaming mascara formulations.

Thus, there is a need for an improved mascara applicator with a greater degree of control and consistency in mascara loading, compatibility with a wider range of mascara viscosities, and suitability for applying pressurized and non-pressurized foaming mascara.

SUMMARY

Implementations described herein provide an apparatus and a method for applying mascara with a mascara applicator assembly. In one embodiment, the mascara applicator assembly has a body. The body has an inner volume configured to accept mascara product. A stem is coupled to the body. The stem has a passage and one or more apertures. The one or more apertures extend through the stem and into the passage. A brush is disposed on a distal end of the stem and has a dispensing region and an application region. The dispensing region has bristle fibers arranged in an orientation different than the bristle fibers disposed in the application region. The dispensing region is positioned to receive product exiting the apertures. The mascara applicator assembly additionally has a cap. The cap comprises a cleaner configured to remove unused product from the brush when the brush is placed into or removed from the cap.

In another embodiment, the mascara applicator assembly has a body. The body has an inner volume configured to accept a mascara product container. An applicator has a stem having passage formed therethrough, one or more apertures formed through the stem and fluidly connecting with the passage, and a brush. The brush has a dispensing region and an application region. The dispensing region has bristle fibers arranged in an orientation different than the bristle fibers disposed in the application region. The dispensing region is positioned to receive product exiting the apertures. The mascara applicator assembly additionally has a cap. The cap comprises a cleaner configured to remove unused product from the brush when the brush is placed into or removed from the cap.

In one embodiment, the cleaner comprises one or more of the following elements selected from a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers, a wiper sealing pad and a pin. In one embodiment, the cap may be keyed to the base. In this manner, the cap aligns the cleaner therein with the brush so that the cleaner properly engages the brush and when present the wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures. Thus, the wiper sealing pad prevents contamination of the mascara product as well as clogging of the apertures. In one embodiment, the pin may be aligned with the center of the stem when the brush is placed in the cap. In this manner, the pin may clean product from within the stem and prevent clogging of the stem and the apertures.

In another embodiment, a method is provided for applying mascara with a mascara applicator. The method begins by dispensing mascara product from a container disposed in a mascara applicator assembly, flowing the mascara product through one or more apertures formed in the mascara applicator assembly into a dispensing region defined in a mascara brush, expanding the mascara product in a dispensing region of the mascara brush, and moving the foamed mascara to an application portion of the mascara brush.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to implementations, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical implementations of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective implementations.

FIG. 1A is a side plan view of a mascara applicator.

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the mascara applicator.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic side view for the mascara applicator of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric side view for the mascara applicator of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded side perspective view of a rod and the brush of the mascara applicator.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional schematic side view of the rod and brush of the mascara applicator.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional schematic side view of the cap for the brush of the mascara applicator according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7A and 7B are an isometric side view and a top plan view of a brush for the mascara applicator, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are an isometric side view and a top plan view of a brush for the mascara applicator, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top plan view for the brush for the mascara applicator, according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method for applying mascara utilizing a mascara applicator, according to another embodiment.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one implementation may be beneficially used in other implementations without specific recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations described herein provide a mascara applicator particularly suited for delivering a precise amount of mascara consistently over the product's life, for delivering any mascara within a wide range of mascara viscosities, and for applying pressurized and non-pressurized foaming mascara. The mascara applicator includes a brush configured to receive a dose of mascara for application to eyelashes. The mascara applicator further includes a cap configured to protect and clean the brush after use.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional schematic side view of a mascara applicator assembly 100. FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the mascara applicator assembly 100. The mascara applicator assembly 100 includes a cap 120 and a base 110. The base 110 and cap 120 may be made of a polymeric material, for example a thermoplastic material, or other suitable material. The cap 120 is removably disposed on the base 110. The cap 120 and/or base 110 includes an engagement feature that allows the cap 120 to be removably secured to the base 110 to allow a user to separate the cap 120 from the base 110. The engagement feature may include snap-fits, compression fits, threads and the like. For example, the cap 120 may have a protrusion which snaps into a mating receiver formed in the base 110. Alternately, the cap 120 may have a thread which engages a corresponding thread formed in the base 110.

In some embodiments, the mascara applicator assembly 100 is similar in size and shape to conventional mascara applicators. In one embodiment, the mascara applicator assembly 100 has an overall length 102. The overall length 102 of the mascara applicator assembly 100 may be between about 135 mm and about 200 mm, such as about 182 mm. The mascara applicator assembly 100 may additionally have a diameter 124. The diameter 124 is selected to allow the base 110 to be comfortably held in the hand of the user, while also sufficiently sized to allow the base 110 to contain a reservoir of mascara and the mechanisms for delivering the mascara.

The inner workings of the mascara applicator assembly 100 is now described with references to a cross-sectional schematic side view for the mascara applicator assembly 100 of FIG. 1A depicted in FIG. 2 and an exploded isometric side view for the mascara applicator assembly 100 of FIG. 2 depicted in FIG. 3. An applicator 250 extends from the base 110 and is selectively covered by the cap 120 when the cap 120 is affixed to the base 110. The cap 120 can be removed from the base 110 to expose the applicator 250. The applicator 250 is attached to the base 110 and receives mascara from a mascara product container 270 disposed in the base 110. The cap 120 is configured to enclose and protect the applicator 250 therein. The cap 120, applicator 250 and base 110 assemble together comprise the main portions of the mascara applicator assembly 100.

The base 110 has a substantially tubular body 210. In one embodiment, the tubular body 210 is cylindrical. An actuator 212 is disposed at a first end 213 of the tubular body 210. A top 216 is disposed at a second end 211 of the tubular body 210. The top 216, tubular body 210 and actuator 212 bound an inner volume 218 defined within the base 110. The inner volume 218 is sized to accept the product container 270 and a cam platform 214 therein.

The cam platform 214 is disposed between the actuator 212 and the product container 270. The cam platform 214 is moveable between a first position and a second position in axial direction defined by the tubular body 210. The first position of the cam platform 214 is closer to the actuator 212 relative to the second position. The cam platform 214 is shaped to fit and rotate in the inner volume 218. For example, the cam platform 214 may have a circular shape mirroring the shape of the inner volume 218 such that rotation can occur without interference from the tubular body 210. The cam platform 214 has a movement mechanism 234. The movement mechanism 234 is configured to engage a corresponding drive mechanism 238 of the actuator 212. The actuator 212 has a fastener 236 which engages the tubular body 210 to hold the actuator 212 at the first end 213 of the tubular body 210, while allowing the actuator 212 to rotate. The fastener 236 includes a snap-fit groove or protrusion which engages a complimentary groove or protrusion of the tubular body 210 to axially retain the actuator 212 to the tubular body 210 while allowing rotation of the actuator 212 relative to the tubular body 210.

In one embodiment, the movement mechanism 234 is a saw-tooth gear that engages a complimentary saw-tooth gear of drive mechanism 238. The fit and angle of the drive mechanism 238 and movement mechanism 234 biases the cam platform 214 to be in the first position that is near the actuator 212. Rotation of the actuator 212 in one direction causes the saw-tooth gear of the drive mechanism 238 to ride against the saw tooth gear of the cam platform 214, and on crest of each tooth of the gear, move the cam platform 214 upwards to the second position that is farther from the actuator 212 until the crests of the teeth in the saw-tooth gears pass each other, allowing the cam platform 214 to return to the first position closer to the actuator 212. In operation, the rotation of the actuator 212 causes the cam platform 214 to rise and fall, thus displacing the product container 270 up and down in an axial direction relative to the tubular body 210.

The product container 270 contains the mascara formulation under pressure and an aerosol propellant. The product container 270 includes a valve 271 that, in a closed state, retains the mascara formulation and aerosol propellant within the container 270. The product container 270 may be of a variety shapes and materials suitable for retaining the mascara formulation and aerosol propellant. The valve 271 is operable between an open and closed position in response to axial displacement of the valve 271 relative to the product container 270. Alternately, the valve may operate between the open and closed position in response to a twisting displacement of the valve 271 relative to the product container 270. The valve 271 is generally in a normally closed positon. Relative displacement of the valve 271 toward the product container 270 cause the state of the valve 271 to switch to an open state, while motion in the opposite direction returns the valve 271 to the closed state. When in the open state, the valve 271 of the product container 270 is configured to release the product, e.g., the mascara formulation, contained under pressure within the product container 270. The product container 270 may be configured to maintain the mascara product separate from the propellant by means of a bag, diaphragm or piston inside the product container 270. In one example, the mascara product is a post-foaming composition which does not create foam as it is immediately dispensed from the product container 270, but foams after exposure for at least 2 seconds to atmospheric pressure. In one embodiment, the product container 270 is a bag on valve which keeps the propellant separate from the mascara product. Displacement of the product container 270 upward within the base 110 by the rotation of the actuator 212 while the valve 271 is held stationary relative to the base 110 causes the valve 271 to change to the open state and allow the product to dispense from the container 270 through the valve 271. As the product container 270 returns downward by action of the actuator 212, the valve 271 moves away from the container 270 and returns to the closed state, thus sealing the product within the product container 270 and stopping the dispense of product through the valve 271. The length of upward movement may be altered or adjusted by changing the height of the teeth, the at displacement of the cam platform 214 from the actuator 212, or by other techniques suitable to adjust the duration that the valve 271 is in the open state, and thus, control the dosing of product from the product container 270.

It should be appreciated that the operation of the actuator 212 and dispensing of the product from the product container 270 may alternately be performed by other mechanisms. For example, the product container 270 may be a bag and the actuator 212 may utilize a screw to elevate the cam platform 214 as a piston to force product from the product container 270 through the valve 271. In yet other arrangements, the actuator 212 may be biased to return to the at rest position where the valve is in a closed state and movement of the actuator 212 by twisting, or pushing much the same way a retractable pen functions, may cause the valve 271 in the product container 270 to dose a pre-measured or otherwise limited portion of the product. In yet another embodiment, the product container 270 may be a bag containing non-pressurized or non-foaming formulations and the tubular body 210 may be malleable to permit the product container 270 to be squeezed through the tubular body 210 or the tubular body 210 may be the product container 270 and squeezing the tubular body 210 dispenses the product from the product container 270. In one embodiment, the product container 270 and the tubular body 210 are one and the same squeeze tube and product is squeezed therefrom in a fashion similar to a toothpaste tube. It should be appreciated that the tubular body 210 may be cylindrical, oblong or other suitable shape for squeezing and may additionally retain a deformed, i.e., squeezed, shape post squeeze.

The applicator 250 includes a rod 354, a stem 352 and a brush 260. The brush 260 is coupled to a first end 410 of the stem 352. The rod 354 is disposed at a second end 412 of the stem 352. Additional details of the applicator 250 will be discussed below with additional reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is an exploded side perspective view of the rod 354 and the brush 260 of the mascara applicator assembly 100. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional schematic side view of the rod 354 and the brush 260 of the mascara applicator assembly 100.

The stem 352 has a passage 290 that is aligned with a passage 251 formed in the rod 354. The passages 251, 290 receives mascara product exiting the valve 271 and deliver the product to the brush 260. The passage 251 extends completely through the rod 354 and is fluidly coupled to the passage 290 within the stem 352. The passage 251 of the rod 354 is additionally fluidly coupled to an outlet of the valve 271 of the product container 270. The passage 251 of the rod 354 is configured to accept product discharged through the valve 271 of the product container 270 and direct the product directly into a passage 290 extending partially through the stem 352.

The stem 352 has one or more apertures 254 formed therethrough that connects the passage 290 to an exterior face (such as face 711 in FIG. 7) of the stem 352. Thus, mascara product discharged from the product container 270 is not fully exposed to air until the product ultimately passes through the apertures 254. In one embodiment, the stem 352 has a plurality of apertures 254. The apertures 254 may all have a common diameter, some apertures may have common diameters, or all the aperture 254 may have different diameters. For example as illustrated in FIG. 5, the apertures 254 are shown as a first aperture 501, a second aperture 502 and a third aperture 503. The first aperture 501, second aperture 502 and third aperture 503 may have different opening diameters. For example, a diameter 508 of the first aperture 501 is greater than a diameter 509 of the third aperture 503, where the diameter of the second aperture 502 is sized between that of the first and third apertures 501, 503. Selecting diameters for the apertures 254 that are progressively larger in a direction away from the container 270 results in more uniform amounts of product exiting the stem 352 and a more even distribution of product between the first end 511 to the second end 613 of the brush 260. The uniformity of the amount of product exiting the apertures 254 may alternatively be controlled by increasing the internal diameter of the passage 290 in a direction away from the container 270 and rod 354.

The brush 260 has one or more types of bristle fibers 420 extending from a brush core 460. In some embodiments, the brush core 460 has an inner portion 461. The brush 260 may be removeably secured to, or made as an integral part of, the stem 352. In embodiments wherein the brush 260 is not integral to the stem 352, the inner portion 461 is configured to accept the stem 352, for example as a snap or interference fit. The brush core 460 may be chemically or mechanically fastened radially to the stem 352 in any suitable manner including stapling, sonic welding, crimping, fuse, adhesive, overmolding, or other suitable technique.

The bristle fibers 420 generally extend 360 degrees from around the brush core 460 and a fabricated from a polymer that is suitably flexible to enable the user to apply the mascara product to the eyelashes. The bristle fibers 420 may have a tip-to-tip diameter across the brush 260 that is suitable for applying mascara to eyelashes with a desired effect. The bristle fibers 420 may have a thickness of about 0.002 to about 0.015 inches, such as about 0.005 inches to about 0.008 inches. The bristle fibers 420 may be formed so that some or all of the fibers have at least one or more of the same diameter, differing diameters, tapering diameters, the same length or different lengths. The bristle fibers 420 may be formed from a polymer such as a polyester, a nylon, an elastomer, or any combinations thereof.

The bristle fibers 420 may have a first profile 510 extending from a first end 511 of the brush 260 to a second end 513 of the brush 260. The first profile 510 may have a flat, curved, undulating, arc, or other non-linear shape. For example, the first profile 510 may have the bristle fibers 420 at the first end 511 of the brush 260 at a first length 514 and the bristle fibers 420 at the second end 513 of the brush 260 at a second length 515 shorter than a third length 516 of the bristle fibers 420 in a middle portion 512 of the first profile 510, thus forming a first profile 510 that is convex. Alternatively, the first profile 510 may be concave. The bristle fibers 420 may have the first profile 510 located in only one angular portion relative to a centerline of the applicator 250, or the bristle fibers 420 confirm to the first profile 510 in portions of the brush 260 rotated through any non-zero angle all the way up to and including 360 degrees. The first profile 510 may extend along an outer circumference 790 of the brush 260, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B.

The bristle fibers 420 may alternately, or in addition to the first profile 510, have a second profile 530 extending from the first end 511 of the brush 260 to the second end 513 of the brush 260. The second profile 530 may be substantially linear or have a non-linear shape that is different than the first profile 510. For example, the second profile 530 may have the first length 514 for the bristle fibers 420 at the first end 511 of the brush 260 substantially similar in size to the second length 515 of the bristle fibers 420 at the second end 513 of the brush 260. The second profile 530 may extend along an outer circumference 790, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B. Alternately, the second profile 530 may have the first length 514 of the bristle fibers 420 greater or smaller than the second length 515 of the bristle fibers 420 so as to form a cone shape for the brush 260.

In yet another configuration, the brush 260 may include both the first profile 510 and the second profile 530. The combination of the first profile 510 and the second profile 530 may allow for dispensing control of the product in a first region (i.e., the region of the first profile 510, while a second region (i.e., the region of the second profile 530) is better suited to provide delivery and application of the mascara product to the eyelashes. The first and second profiles 510, 530 each extend along a portion of the outer circumference 790 to create the first and second regions and will be discussed with respect to additional FIGS. 7A through 8B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are an isometric side view and a top plan view of a brush 700 of the mascara applicator assembly 100, according to one embodiment. The brush 700 is substantially similar to as described above with respect to brush 260 shown in FIGS. 2-6, and the brush 700 may replace the brush 260 within the applicator 250. The brush 700 illustrates one embodiment of a configuration for the bristle fibers 420.

The brush core 460 has bristle fibers 420 extending therefrom. The brush core 460 extends substantially around the applicator 250 while still allowing a face 711 of the stem 352 to be exposed through the core 460. The face 711 has the one or more apertures 254 disposed therein from which mascara product is dispensed. Alternately, the bristle fibers 420 are formed directly on or are a part of the stem 352, however, there are the face 411 of the stem 352 should remain substantially free of the bristle fibers 420. In yet another alternative, the brush core 460 may extend completely around the stem 252 and have openings aligned with the apertures 254 such that mascara product may be dispensed through the openings in the brush core 460 from the apertures 254.

The brush core 460 has a first row 701 of bristle fibers 420 and a second row 702 of bristle fibers 420. The first row 701 of bristle fibers 420 are formed at an angle 707 relative to an imaginary line 799 bisecting the apertures 254. Similarly, the second row 702 of bristle fibers 420 are formed at the angle 707 relative to the imaginary line 799 bisecting the apertures 254. The angle 707 is selected such that the first row 701 of bristle fibers 420 are obliquely arranged relative to the second row 702 of bristle fibers 420. The bristle fibers 420 have a plurality of tips 709. The tips 709 for each of the bristle fibers 420 in the first row 701 and second row 702 are substantially close in proximity to each other and separated by a distance 791. The angle 707 of the bristle fibers 420 in the first and second rows 701, 702 and the converging of the tips 709 of the rows 701, 702 confine a dispensing region 704 within the brush 700. The dispensing region 704 retains the mascara product when the mascara product is exposed to air and expands, for example, foams. In this manner, the first row 701 and second row 702 of bristle fibers 602 along with the face 711 of the stem 352 form an area 712 in the brush 700 which can hold a discrete amount of dispensed mascara product, particularly after foaming. The discrete amount of mascara product dispensed may be controlled by the dosing actuator 212 as discussed above.

The brush core 460 additionally has a plurality of bristle fibers 420 forming additional rows 782 which are not in part of the first row 701 or the second row 702. The bristle fibers 420 in the additional rows 782 form an application region 780 of the brush 700. The bristle fibers 420 in the application region 780 may be configured in a variety of patterns to provide the foamed mascara product present in the dispensing region 704 to the eyelashes to produce a particular style or effect, for example volumizing, thickening or defining the lashes. As the brush 260 is placed to the eyelashes and rotated, the foaming mascara product is moved from the dispensing region 704 to the application region 780 for stylizing the eyelashes. Since the bristle fibers 420 comprising the dispensing region 704 have an orientation, for example angle, that is different than the bristle fibers 420 comprising the application region 780, the density, spacing, angle or other attribute of then bristle fibers 420 comprising each region 704, 780 may be separately selected to best optimize the functionality of each region 704, 780 without detrimentally reducing the functionality of the other region.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are an isometric side view and a top plan view respectfully of a brush 800 for the mascara applicator assembly 100, according to another embodiment. The brush 800 is substantially as described above with respect to brush 260 shown in FIGS. 2-6, and the brush 800 may replace the brush 260 within the applicator 250. The brush 800 illustrates another embodiment for the configuration of the bristle fibers 420.

Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the brush core 460 for the brush 800 extends substantially surround the applicator 250 while still exposing the face 811 of the applicator 250. As above, in the alternate, the bristle fibers 420 are formed directly on or are a part of the applicator 250 and the bristle fibers 420 do not extend onto the face 811 of the applicator 250. Additionally, in yet another alternative, the brush core 460 may extend completely around the stem 252 and have openings aligned with the apertures 254.

The brush core 460 has a first row 801 of bristle fibers 420 and a second row 802 of bristle fibers 420. The first row 801 of bristle fibers 420 are formed substantially parallel in orientation to an imaginary line 899 bisecting the apertures 254. Similarly, the second row 802 of bristle fibers 420 are formed substantially parallel in orientation to an imaginary line 899 bisecting the apertures 254 and thus parallel to the first row 801 of bristle fibers 420. The bristle fibers 420 have a plurality of tips 891. The tips 891 for each of the bristle fibers 420 in the first row 801 and second row 802 are spaced a distance 880 from each other. The parallel orientation of the bristle fibers 420 in the first and second rows 801, 802 bound a dispensing region 810 in the brush 700. The dispensing region 810 retains the foaming mascara product allowing it to expand therein after exposure to air. In this manner, the first row 801 and second row 802 of bristle fibers 602 along with the face 811 of the applicator 250 form an area 812 in the brush 800 which can hold a measured amount of the dispensed and foamed mascara product.

The brush core 460 additionally has a plurality of bristle fibers 420 forming additional rows 882 which are not in the first row 801 or second row 802. The bristle fibers 420 in the additional rows 882 form an application region 820 of the brush 800. The bristle fibers 420 in the application region 820 may be configured in a variety of patterns to provide the foaming mascara product to the eyelashes to produce a particular style or effect, for example volumizing, thickening, lengthening or defining the lashes. As the brush 260 is placed to the eyelashes and rotated, the foaming mascara product is moved from the dispensing region 804 to the application region 820 for stylizing the eyelashes.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap 120 is configured to cover and protect the brush 260. The cap 120 has an outer housing 232. The outer housing 232 has a top end 229, bottom end 221. A cleaner 240 is disposed therein the outer housing 232 that engages the brush 260 upon connecting the cap 120 to the base 110. The outer housing 232 may have any elongated (i.e., non-circular) shape in order to orientate the cleaner 240 relative to the brush 260. The brush 260 is disposed inside the outer housing 232 when the cap 120 is secured to the base 110 and exposed outside the outer housing 232 when the cap 120 is detached from the base 110.

The outer housing 232 has a seal area 280 at the bottom end 221 which engages and seals against the outer top 216 of the base 110. The outer housing 232 may have a treaded region in the seal area 280 which is configured to engage corresponding male or female threads present on the outer top 216. Alternately, the outer housing 232 may have a male or female protrusion similarly configured to engage (i.e., snap-fit with) corresponding male or female protrusions on the outer top 216. When the seal area 280 of the outer housing 232 engages the outer top 216, air is substantially prevented from entering inside the cap 120. Thus, the seal area 280 reduces the interaction between residual product disposed on the brush 260 outside air when the cap 120 is secured to the base 110.

The cleaner 240 is configured to remove unused product from the brush 260 when the brush 260 is placed into or removed from the cap 120. The cleaner 240 has an opening 243 at a first end 261 and a second end 269 proximate the top end 229 of the cap 120. The cleaner 240 additionally has a wiper section 266, with one or more waste chambers 242 disposed between and distal to wiper blades 263. Cleaner 240 may also have a wiper sealing pad 246 disposed therein. The cap 120 may be keyed to the base 110. In this manner, the cap 120 aligns the cleaner 240 therein with the brush 260 so that the cleaner 240 properly engages the brush 260 and the wiper sealing pad 246 aligns with the apertures 254. The wiper sealing pad 246 cleans and seals the apertures 254. Thus, the wiper sealing pad 246 prevents contamination of the mascara product as well as clogging of the apertures 254.

The wiper section 266 of cleaner 240 may be disposed in the cleaner 240 a distance 262 from the second end 269. The distance 262 may be of sufficient length to accommodate the brush 260 within the cap 120 without the brush 260 contacting the second end 269 or the wiper section 266 of cleaner 240 while the cap 120 is coupled to the base 110.

The wiper section 266 may have one or more blades 263. The blades 263 may be formed from a flexible elastomeric material such as a rubber or plastic compound. The blades 263 may deform on contact with the brush 260 or stem 352. The deformation of the blades 263 allows the brush 260 to pass therethrough while keeping on close contact between the brush 260 and the blades 263 of the wiper section 266 of cleaner 240. Upon the brush 260 passing and losing contact with the blades 263, the blades 263 substantially return to its original position. The number of blades 263 in the wiper section 266 of the cleaner, may be configured to appropriately clean the brush 260. In this manner, the blades 263 contact the bristle fibers 360 of the brush 260 to remove residual product therefrom. The residual product removed by the blades 263 is directed into the waste chambers 242. Wiping the bristle fibers 360 cleans any waste product thereon and removes the waste product to the waste chambers 242. Thus, the cleaner 240 cleans the brush 260 and prevents contamination of the brush 260 by removing waste product, leaving the brush 260 substantially free from old mascara product upon removal from the cap 120 and ready to accept a new dose of mascara product for application to the lashes.

Referring additionally to the cross sectional schematic side view of the cap 120, the outer housing 232 of the cap 120 may optionally have a pin 610 as shown in FIG. 6. The pin 610 may be aligned with a center 699 of the stem 352 when the brush 260 is placed in the cap 120. The stem 352 may be further equipped with a valve 676 at the first end 410. The valve 676 may prevent product from within the stem 352 from escaping through the first end 410 of the stem 352 when a dose of product is injected into the stem 352 from the container 270. The valve 676 is configured to accept the pin 610 therethrough when the cap 120 is affixed to the base 110. For example, the valve 676 may be a burp valve, spring valve or other “backflow” prevention type of valve that will allow the pin 610 to be disposed therethrough. Upon placing the cap 120 on the brush 260, the pin 610 passes through the valve 676 and into the passage 290 formed through the stem 352. The pin 610 has a length sufficient to cover all of the apertures 254 formed through the stem 352 when the cap 120 is installed on the base 110. In this manner, the pin 610 may clean product from within the stem 352 and prevent clogging of the stem 352 and the apertures 254. In one example, the pin 610 has a diameter that creates a slip fit with the passage 290, such that the pin 610 wipes and substantially seals the apertures 254, thus reducing the probability of residual mascara product will clog the passage 290 and the apertures 254.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top plan view for a symmetrical brush 900 for the mascara applicator 100, according to yet another embodiment. The symmetrical brush 900 is substantially as described above with respect to brush 260 shown in FIGS. 2-6, and the brush 800 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The symmetrical brush 900 may replace the brush 260 within the applicator 250 and illustrates another embodiment for configuring a plurality of bristle fibers 982.

The symmetrical brush 900 has rows of bristle fibers 920 extending radially outward from the brush core. The symmetrical brush 900 has one or more dispensing regions 980. The dispensing regions 980 may extend vertically along the stem 352. In one embodiment, there is only a first dispensing region 981 having one or more first apertures 254A from which product may enter the first dispensing region 981. Alternatively, a second dispensing region 982, third dispensing region 983, fourth dispensing region 984, may be provided along with the first dispensing region 981. The dispensing regions 980 may extend vertically such that product enters and fills the entire region. Alternatively, the apertures 254 may be provided in a pattern, such as a spiral around the stem 352 or alternating the number and location of each aperture 254 such as having first aperture 254A and third aperture 254C at one level and a second aperture 254B and a fourth aperture 254D at a second level and repeating this pattern down multiple levels from the first end 410 of the stem 352 toward the second end 412 of the stem 352. The dispensing region 980 retains the foaming mascara product allowing it to expand therein after exposure to air. In this manner, a measured amount of the dispensed and foamed mascara product can be controlled to a variety of locations in the symmetrical brush 900.

Additionally, the symmetrical brush 900 is formed to provide application regions substantially similar in geometer to the dispensing regions 980 to make the symmetrical brush 900 symmetrical. The bristle fibers 990 in the symmetrical brush 900 are configured in a variety of patterns to provide the foaming mascara product to the eyelashes to produce a particular style or effect, for example volumizing, thickening, lengthening or defining the lashes. As the symmetrical brush 900 is placed to the eyelashes and rotated, the foaming mascara product is moved from the one or more dispensing regions 980 throughout the symmetrical brush 900 for applying product to stylize the eyelashes.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of method for applying mascara utilizing a mascara applicator such as described above. At operation 1010, mascara product is dispensed from a container disposed in a mascara applicator assembly. In one example, mascara product within the container is pressurized and is released from the container upon the activation of a valve. The valve may release a measured amount of the foaming mascara upon the container being displaced relative to the container. For example, the valve may be pushed in or twisted with respect to the container. At operation 1020, the mascara product flows through one or more apertures formed in the mascara applicator assembly into a dispensing region defined in a mascara brush. The brush may be configured to capture the mascara product exiting the apertures in the delivery area where the mascara product has room to expand, such as by foaming. For example, a plurality of bristle tips in adjacent rows of bristle fibers may converge together and form the dispensing area, or dispensing region of the brush, defined above the apertures. The relative size of the apertures may be selected to regulate the amount of mascara product flowing through each of the apertures thus controlling the distribution of the mascara product present in the dispensing area of the brush. At operation 1030, the mascara product expands in the dispensing region of the mascara brush. The mascara product is configured to foam after contacting the air for a predefined period of time. The time required for the mascara product to foam may be controlled by the formulation of the mascara product. For example, an increase or decrease in a volatile agent present in the formulation will cause the mascara product to foam more rapidly or slower upon contact with the air. At operation 1040, the foamed mascara product moves to an application portion of the mascara brush. The brush is rotated to move the foamed mascara product to an application portion of the brush while applying the mascara product to eyelashes. The eyelashes are stylized further by the brush bristles in the application region of the brush. The application region is outside the dispensing region and has brush bristles configured to provide a stylized effect to the eyelashes.

The mascara applicator assembly described above is particularly suited for applying mascara products that expand upon exposure to air to eyelashes. Advantageously, the mascara applicator assembly provides a selectable dose of mascara product for consistent results. The delivery metering system allows you to deliver a precise and repeatable product to the brush. The brush is maintained substantially free of residual mascara product and limits contamination of the mascara formulation as well as contamination of the brush itself. The brush is configured with both a dispensing region and an application region which allows each portion to be separately optimized for a specific purpose enhancing the effectiveness of the brush. The cleaning mechanism ensures clog free operation. The mascara applicator assembly may additionally be refillable, or accept replacement containers, lowering the overall cost of ownership of the mascara applicator assembly. Furthermore, the mascara applicator assembly may be made modular in which parts, such as the brush, stem or rod may be replaced for customization or repair making the mascara applicator assembly suited to an individual while minimizing cost of ownership.

While the foregoing is directed to implementations of the present invention, other and further implementations of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mascara applicator assembly, comprising: a base including a body having an inner volume configured to accept mascara product; a stem coupled to the body, the stem having a passage and one or more apertures, the one or more apertures extending through the stem and into the passage; a brush disposed on a distal end of the stem and having a dispensing region and an application region, said dispensing region being positioned to receive product exiting the apertures; and a cap comprising a cleaner configured to engage the brush when the cap is disposed on the body, the cleaner comprising a wiper sealing pad, wherein the cap is keyed with the base to align the cleaner therein with the brush so that the cleaner properly engages the brush and the wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures.
 2. The mascara applicator assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a mascara product container disposed in the inner volume of the body, the mascara product container having a valve; and an actuator operable to cause the valve to change between open and closed states.
 3. The mascara applicator assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator is operable to displace the mascara product container relative to the body.
 4. The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the cleaner further comprises one or more of the following elements selected from: a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers and a pin.
 5. The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the cleaner comprises a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers, and said wiper sealing pad.
 6. The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the dispensing region having bristle fibers arranged in an orientation different than the bristle fibers disposed in the application region.
 7. The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the brush further comprises: a brush core disposed on the stem; a first row of bristle fibers extending from the brush core having first tips, the first row of bristle fibers defining one side of the dispensing region; and a second row of bristle fibers extending from the brush core having second tips, the second row of bristle fibers defining another side of the dispensing region, wherein apertures formed through the stem are aligned between the first row of bristle fibers and the second row of bristle fibers.
 8. The mascara applicator assembly of claim 7, wherein the first tips of the first row of bristle fibers and the second tips of the second row of bristle fibers converge.
 9. The mascara applicator assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first row of bristle fibers is parallel with the second row of bristle fibers.
 10. The mascara applicator assembly according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the stem comprises a plurality of apertures.
 11. The mascara applicator assembly of claim 10, wherein a diameter of a first aperture of the plurality of apertures formed through the stem is different than a diameter of a second aperture of the plurality of apertures.
 12. A method for applying mascara comprising: dispensing mascara product from a container disposed in a base of a mascara applicator assembly; flowing the mascara product through one or more apertures formed in the mascara applicator assembly into a dispensing region defined in a mascara brush; expanding the mascara product to foam in the dispensing region of the mascara brush; and moving the foamed mascara product to an application portion of the mascara brush; keying a cap comprising a cleaner therein with the base to align the cap with the mascara brush so that the cleaner properly engages the mascara brush and a wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: capturing the foaming mascara leaving the apertures with a first row of brush bristles and a second row of brush bristles flanking the apertures and forming the dispensing region.
 14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein flowing the mascara product into the dispensing region comprises: displacing the container to cause a valve coupled to the container to release a dose of mascara product.
 15. The method according to any one of claims 12-14 further comprising: inserting a pin into the stem a distance sufficient to block the apertures.
 16. A mascara applicator assembly, comprising: a base including a body; a stem coupled to the body at a first end and the stem coupled to a brush at a second end, the brush having a dispensing region and an application region, said dispensing region being positioned to receive product exiting apertures; a cap comprising: a cleaner configured to engage the brush when the cap is disposed on the body wherein said cleaner comprises a wiper having one or more wiper blades, one or more waste chambers, and a wiper sealing pad wherein the cap is keyed with the base to align the cleaner therein with the brush so that the cleaner properly engages the brush and the wiper sealing pad aligns with the apertures thereby cleaning and sealing the apertures.
 17. The mascara applicator assembly of claim 16 wherein the cleaner further comprises: a pin. 